ABSTRACT
Explosives recovered in criminal investigations are evidence, same as burglar tools, firearms, narcotics, or any other items collected in criminal cases. The same rules apply as with any other evidence—properly marked and sealed containers, receipts, and other documentation, a strong chain of evidence. A logbook or a computer spreadsheet will provide an adequate tracking system for the relatively limited quantity of evidence. In addition, every evidence item stored in the magazine should also be logged into the explosives storage inventory, which is a mandate for every magazine, providing a backup should the evidence manifests be neglected. The agency should have magazine facilities, or arrangements with another public safety agency bomb squad to share their magazines. The bomb disposal field does not deal with explosive evidence in near the quantities or frequency that, for example, street patrol or narcotics investigators deal with drugs.
